Inclusivity

Short introduction

At the core of the Hepaswitch iGEM project is a steadfast commitment to making science accessible, understandable, and engaging for everyone. We firmly believe that scientific advancement should not be confined to laboratories or academic circles; it must reach and include diverse communities. Recognizing the various barriers that can exclude individuals from participating in scientific discourse, our team has implemented a multi-faceted inclusivity strategy. This report details our key initiatives designed to dismantle these barriers, focusing on overcoming the transport divide, ensuring digital accessibility, creating inclusive social media content, and conducting targeted outreach to underserved communities across Poland.

Extended analysis

The issue of transport exclusion in Poland is a well-documented socioeconomic problem. It is estimated that nearly 14 million Poles have limited or no access to public transport, a situation that primarily affects residents of rural areas and towns with up to 10,000 inhabitants. This phenomenon has deep roots, exacerbated by the liquidation of over 900 local bus lines since 2014, leaving many communities isolated [1].

This isolation has a direct and profound impact on educational opportunities. A 2023 report by UNICEF Poland revealed that 14% of young people aged 12-19 are at risk of transport exclusion . For many, the availability of a bus is the deciding factor in which secondary school they can attend, severely limiting their choices. The report found that 21% of students would have chosen a different, often better, school if they had reliable transportation [2]. This creates a systemic disadvantage before they even consider higher education.

The problem is compounded by the heavy centralization of Poland's scientific and academic infrastructure. The nation's premier research institutions and universities are concentrated in a handful of major metropolitan areas:

• Warsaw:: home to the University of Warsaw, Warsaw University of Technology, and the headquarters of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN).
• Kraków: host to the Jagiellonian University (the oldest in Poland) and AGH University of Science and Technology.
• Wrocław, Poznań, and the Tricity area (Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot): other major hubs with top-tier universities and research centers.

This geographic concentration of knowledge means that the highest quality scientific education, research opportunities, and public science events are physically located in the country's best-connected cities. For a talented student from a village with infrequent or non-existent bus service, attending a lecture, participating in a workshop, or even aspiring to study at one of these institutions presents a formidable logistical and financial challenge.

Conclusion: It is clear that a model of education reliant solely on stationary, in-person attendance is inherently exclusionary in a country with significant transport disparities. When access to knowledge is contingent upon one's ability to physically travel to a major hub, we perpetuate a system where potential is dictated by geography. Therefore, universal access to knowledge through digital platforms is not merely a convenience but a necessity. Initiatives like the Hepaswitch Academy are crucial to bypass these physical barriers, ensuring that curiosity and intellect, not transportation schedules, determine one's educational journey.

Hepaswitch academy website

The HepaSwitch Academy is an online educational platform designed to provide children across Poland with access to advanced topics in the biological sciences. Its stated mission is to combat the "transport divide"— a phenomenon where students in remote or less-connected regions have fewer opportunities to engage with high-quality, specialized education compared to their peers in major urban centers. The platform accomplishes this by delivering a curriculum focused on complex subjects like molecular and synthetic biology, utilizing interactive games and visualizations to make the content engaging and understandable.

Content description

• advanced subject matter:: the curriculum delves into university-level topics such as the central dogma of molecular biology (DNA → RNA → protein), gene therapies, biofuels, and cancer diagnostics. This ambition is a key strength, as it provides a level of academic challenge not always available in standard school curricula.
• structured learning: complex concepts are broken down into digestible components. The first lesson, for instance, systematically introduces molecules (DNA, RNA, Proteins), equipment (Eppendorf and Falcon tubes), and processes (Transcription, Translation). This methodical approach helps build a strong foundational understanding.
• focused on real-world application: the platform consistently connects abstract biological concepts to tangible, exciting applications. By linking synthetic biology to climate-resistant crops and new cancer therapies, the lessons answer the crucial student question: "Why is this important?" This relevance is a powerful motivator.
• emphasis on scientific method: explanation of fundamental concepts like control groups, variables, and the critical need for technical and biological repetitions. Framing this with a real research question about fighting liver cancer makes the scientific method practical and compelling.
• interactive engagement: this gamification helps visualize processes and makes learning active rather than passive, which is particularly effective for complex subjects and younger audiences.

Combating the transport divide

The HepaSwitch Academy is a highly effective tool for addressing the educational inequalities caused by the transport divide. Its usefulness stems from three primary factors:

1. accessibility: the platform's online nature removes geographical barriers entirely. A motivated student in a small village has access to the exact same high-quality educational material as a student in Warsaw. It democratizes access to specialized knowledge.
2. quality: the content is not a simplified version of biology; it's an ambitious and modern curriculum that introduces students to cutting-edge fields. This ensures that students outside of major academic hubs are not receiving a lesser education but are instead being given the tools to excel and potentially pursue careers in STEM.
3. engagement: by using professional language, real-world examples, and interactive games, the platform fosters genuine interest and critical thinking. It doesn't just teach facts; it teaches students how to think like scientists, a skill that is invaluable regardless of their ultimate career path.

The academy can be found under the following link.

Universal accessibility of digital resources

Our commitment to inclusivity extends to the digital realm. It is not enough to simply put information online; it must be accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. The Hepaswitch Academy website and our educational games have been designed with universal access in mind.

• user-friendly interface: we have prioritized a clean, intuitive design to ensure that users of all technical skill levels can navigate our resources with ease.
• accessibility features: our website incorporates accessibility best practices, such as clear font choices and high-contrast color schemes, to assist users with visual impairments. Our interactive games are designed to be controlled with simple inputs, making them playable for a wide audience. Our goal is to create a digital environment where no user is left behind.
• WCAG 2.1. standards

Spreading the news

5000 mails to schools about this!

Inclusive social media and communication

Social media is one of our most powerful tools for public engagement. To ensure our message reaches the widest possible audience, we have made accessibility a cornerstone of our content strategy.

• subtitles on all video content: every video we publish on our social media platforms is equipped with clear, accurate subtitles. This is a non-negotiable step in our content creation process.
• benefits of subtitling: this practice ensures that our content is fully accessible to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Furthermore, it benefits non-native Polish speakers, individuals in sound-sensitive environments (like libraries or public transport), and improves comprehension for all viewers. We strive to make our communication as clear and inclusive as possible.

Effects of our work can be found under the following links:

• Instagram
• TikTok

Proactive outreach to underserved communities

We believe that true inclusivity requires proactive effort. Rather than waiting for audiences to find us, we have made a concerted effort to reach out to those who are often overlooked.

• targeting schools in smaller neighborhoods: our team has compiled a database of schools in smaller towns and villages across Poland. We have initiated a targeted outreach campaign, contacting these schools directly to inform them about the Hepaswitch Academy and our free educational resources. – We have contacted over
• ensuring equal opportunity: this initiative is designed to level the playing field, ensuring that students in less-populated areas are aware of and have access to the same opportunities as their peers in major urban centers. By actively reaching out, we are working to ensure that every student in Poland has the chance to engage with the exciting field of synthetic biology.

Science realisation in Poland

The survey will explore whether young people in Poland face systemic or financial barriers when trying to carry out scientific projects (like ours). The questions will be formulated in a way that allows not only people involved in science, but practically any student, to respond. The goal is to collect as many answers as possible — from my analysis, sometimes at iGEM, it’s not just the actions themselves that make an impression, but the numbers behind them. In this way, we aim to investigate what barriers to entering science young people encounter and assess how accessible and inclusive science truly is for people like us.

Event with sign language interpreter

We’ve also partnered with the Student Microbiology Association to organize a series of workshops called Unheard Biology – a pioneering event, both in Poland and worldwide, dedicated to Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who want to explore biology in greater depth. The entire event will be accompanied by real-time sign language interpreters, ensuring full accessibility and inclusion for all participants. We’re currently preparing detailed materials focusing on synthetic biology, so… you can read more about the first meeting in this series on the Student Microbiology Association’s social media channels!

Citations

• [1] Klub Jagielloński. (2021). Niewidzialne koszty wykluczenia transportowego. (The Invisible Costs of Transport Exclusion). [2] UNICEF Poland. (2023). Wykluczenie komunikacyjne dzieci i młodzieży w Polsce. (Transport Exclusion of Children and Youth in Poland).
• [2] UNICEF Poland. (2023). Wykluczenie komunikacyjne dzieci i młodzieży w Polsce. (Transport Exclusion of Children and Youth in Poland).